# Snowshoe Rabbit (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) The Snowshoe Rabbit has big feet that help it hop through the snow! Its fur changes color with the seasons, turning white in winter and brown in summer. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Also known as:** Variable Hare ![Snowshoe Rabbit](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426646/objects/4499.jpg) ## Appearance The Snowshoe Rabbit has large hind feet and prominent ears. Its fur undergoes a remarkable seasonal transformation, changing from brown in summer to pure white in winter, providing excellent camouflage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Lagomorpha - **Family:** Leporidae - **Genus:** Oryctolagus ## Interesting facts - A mother rabbit might have up to four litters of babies in just one year! - Snowshoe Rabbits communicate by thumping their powerful hind legs loudly on the ground! - These rabbits sometimes eat their own soft poop to get extra nutrients! - They don't dig burrows, but instead hide in shallow depressions or under dense bushes! ## Special abilities - **Winter Cloak:** Snowshoe Rabbits have fur that changes from brown to white, helping them blend perfectly with the snowy landscape and hide from predators. - **Natural Snowshoes:** The Snowshoe Rabbit can walk easily on deep snow because of its extra-large, fur-covered hind feet, which act like snowshoes. - **Zigzag Escape:** Snowshoe Rabbits can run in quick, unpredictable zigzags, making it very hard for predators to catch them. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 41-52 cm - **Weight:** 1.4-2.7 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-8 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-8 - **Gestation:** 35-40 days ## Diet & Feeding This plant-eater munches on leaves, twigs, bark, and green plants, adapting its diet with the seasons. - **Primary Foods:** Twigs, Bark, Leaves, Clover, Grasses, Conifer Needles - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Canadian Lynx (*Lynx canadensis*) — A primary predator, its population often cycles with the rabbit. - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Coyotes frequently hunt snowshoe rabbits, especially in winter. - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — These large owls are silent nighttime hunters of rabbits. - **Eats:** [Balsam Fir](https://www.snappit.app/explore/balsam-fir) (*Abies balsamea*) — Snowshoe rabbits frequently browse on the twigs and needles of fir trees. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Domesticated](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/domesticated): Domesticated refers to species that have been selectively bred and tamed by humans for specific purposes. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Snowshoe Rabbits are shy and prefer to be left alone. It's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Snowshoe Rabbit? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Snowshoe Rabbit? 41-52 cm ### How much does Snowshoe Rabbit weigh? 1.4-2.7 kg ### How long does Snowshoe Rabbit live? 3-8 years ### How fast can Snowshoe Rabbit move? 45 km/h ### What does Snowshoe Rabbit eat? This plant-eater munches on leaves, twigs, bark, and green plants, adapting its diet with the seasons. ### How does Snowshoe Rabbit hunt? Foraging ### How many babies does Snowshoe Rabbit usually have? 1-8 ## Where to spot - [Berry Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-botanic-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Waimea Valley](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/waimea-valley) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Kentucky Down Under](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kentucky-down-under) — Kentucky, US · Zoo [View all places to see Snowshoe Rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/snowshoe-rabbit) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Snowshoe Rabbit: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/snowshoe-rabbit)